Stapling device



June 27, 1944. W D FALfZ 2,352,475 STAPLING DEVICE l Filed May 17, i940 2 sheets-sheet 1 j' ,Il INVENTOR. zg/M2M 2 EF/fz June 27, 19144. w, D, FAL-rz STAPLINGfy DEVICE l Filed May 1'7, 1940 2 sheetssheet 2 Patented June 27, 1944 UNITED 'STATES 'PATENT OFFICE STAPLING DEvIoE. Y william D. Faltz, Pittsburgh, Pa. I. Application May 17, 1940, Serial No. 33,5;753

7 Claims.

Y invention relates to a hand operable stapling device that can be held and manipulated inone hand. Y Y One object of my invention is to provide a simple hand operable `stapler that can be con structed wth suicient simplicity of design to permit it tobe made in small dimensions'. to be incorporated in the top portion of theshell' of a conventional mechanical pocket pencil. Another object of my invention is to provide a hand operable stapler that lshall be suiiiciently small in size and l'ght enough in weight to permit it to be held in one hand while at the same time having its design so arranged that the staple pressing member may be operated by the thumb.

Another object of my invention is to provide a hand stapler as part of a conventional pocket pencil; with the shell of the device formed in two tubular portions to permit access to a magazine in one tubular portion for relling purposes; and for placement of a pusher slide beyond the staples; with a biasing spring properly supported within the other portion of the shell to rest `against and press the pusher slide forward both portons of the shel1 being suitably locked and fastened against the reaction force of the biasing spring.

The combination stapler and pencil that is constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which f Figure 1 is a longitudinal verticaI sectional view, through the stapler and pencil, showing the stapler-mechanism in one part of the shell and the pencil element in theother part of the shell, with the biasing spring vthat pushes the staples into position shown disposed between the two parts of the shell;

'Figure'Z is a view similar to that shown in Fi'girr'l, except that the supporting rodv for the biasing spring and for the stapler pusher 'is formed eccentrically with respect to the central axis ofthe device to permit the mechanism .to

bewenclosed within a shell of smaller diameter than in the construction shown in Figure 1;

*Figure 3 is a sectional view of partof the structure enlarged'to show the arrangementbetween .thel'staple driver and the anvil plate; 'Figure 4 is a transverse View partially in secyf ftion, and partially in elevation, to show the disposition of the staple driver, and a staple, when the'staple is completely closed on the papers;

Figure 5 is an elevationalview of the staple n of . .l Figure 6 is-a transverse section along lines G--ia inFigure2;v -A n l" Figure 7 isan enlarged view of the portion of the barrel, in which the pivoted end of the guide rod is supported;

Figure 8 is a View of a modification whereby the end of the vguide `rod is supported by a disc, instead of by a h ole in the barrel;

Figures 9. and 10 are respectivelya plan end and elevational ,views of the stapler of Figure 2;

Figure A11 is a plan View of the staplerin Figure 2 showing the manner in which the anvil plate is seated iny a recess in the barrel body, as partly shown in Figure 6;

Figure 12 is a longitudinal section, lpartially in elevation, cfa portion of the stapler adjacent the pressure bar to illustrate the mounting of a lifting lever. K

Figure 13 isfaplanview showing the disposition of the'lifting lever; .l i Y Figure 14 is a` perspective `view of afmetallic .assembly providing" the magazine and the tted passages for the'staples;

Figure 15 is1 a l.perspective View of the wall channelfor the fitted passage;

Figurel is `a sectional View through a portion of the stapler'formed upon the metallic structure of Figure 14;

Figure 17 is a View similar to Figure 16, showing the disposition of the staples and the anchorving plate, and stock pin for the staple driver;

Figure 18A is a View similar to Fig. 6, showing the metal guide member as molded inthe magazine body of the stapler;- and l .Figure A1.9 is aside elevation withpart broken away of 4a unit asin Fig. 1 with the parts of'Fig. .1.41molded in the body;

As shown in the drawings; the combination stapler and pencil IIJ comprises a top tubular shell Hand a bottom tubular shell I2, that, are arrangedvto be mechanically joined byl vthreads vI3y or other equivalent means. The shells are preferably maderof molded plastic materials. A.One shell, preferablythe'topone"A Int, is threaded internally at the-inner or lowerzend, andthe other shell I2, is threaded externally atthe inner 1or1-top end. Thewtopshell'll serves as a maga'h vzine and is provided with an internal longitudinal magazine passage I4 to receive and guide a unit batch of staples I5.v The magazine passage I4 .extends ahno'st the full length of the top shell I I; to the front endv of .the shell Where the longitudinal magazine passage I4 communicateswith a transversepressure or feed 'slot'or passage It, `lfor fa plunger or stapledriver `'I'I. AThe staple 2|), alongside and communicating with the magazine passage I4 for the staples. The Yspace 2D does not extend the full length of the magazine passage I4, but stops short against .a -wall 2|, which is to serve as a bracing wall, or end wall, against which the forward end of the guide rod I9 may rest when the stapler is assembled:

The feed slot or passage I6 for the plunger bar is relatively thin, and is approximately of the same thickness as the thickness of one of the staples I that is to be used in the device. The staples, when inserted in the magazine passage I4, are adapted to be ,movedvforward towards the feed slot IISl by the feeder or pusher device I8, which is placed in position in the magazine passage I4 after the "staples have been inserted.

The feed mechanism includes, in ,addition to the pusher 23, the supporting andfguide rod I9 and a, biasing spring 25v that is supported on the rod and anphored, or braced, at its back end to react against, and to push, the feeder or pusher I8 forward against' thefstaples.

Vthe staples, and, in addition, is provided with two laterally extending lugs 26 and 21 that serve as bearing and guide pieces. These bearing lugs 26 and 21 maybe pressed up from the Ybodyof the pusher I8 in its formation -as a complete stamping, or the bearing pieces may be otherwise formed as' a'U`-shap e`d`element to be inserted through two correspondingly spaced slots in the pusher I8.'v The longitudinal magazine passage I4 in the top shell I I' is ofi substantially inverted-U shape'wi'th a sufficient enlargement above the body ofthe U to provide space for the support and guide rod I9 and for the bearing pieces or lugs 26'and 21 of the pusher I8.

As already explained; the forward end of the guide rod I9 is arranged to rest against the inner wall surface 2|. The other end of theguide rod I9 is disposed in a recess concentrically and coaxially located in the bottom shell I2.

When the guide rod I9 is co-axially disposed, asin Figure 1, the staples must necessarily'be disposed off center. Thatin itself is not objectionable since it desirable to dispose the staples as near as possible toV the exit plane where the staples leave the feed slot I6 to engage the papers that'are to befstapled, so that the staple will have as Vlittle movement as possible. However, sincethelugs 26 and' 21 of the pusher I8 are located with their openingsv concentric with the stapler, the short lengthof` each lug between its opening-arid the back surface of the pusher I8 contributes unnecessarily to a radial yenlargement of the'V tubular shell II, merely because space Vmust'be allowed to accommodate those lugs 26 and 21.V That equivalent space is therefore also wasted in the body of the top shell1opposite to the 'space-,occupied by the ,Staples- 1:"

A further object of my invention, therefore, is

The pusher I8 has a cross-section similar to that of device may be made smaller than required with a concentric guide rod, such as is employed in Figure 1.

In order to accomplish this, I have arranged -to locate the staples as close to center as possible, and, in Figure 2, I illustrate them actually crossing the center line or axis of the device. Since the two shells are to be threaded together, however, it is necessary not only that the shells be conlcentric, but that the guide rod I9 shall permit concentric rotation of the two shells for separation, or for re-closure after Vinserting a unit batch of staples in the maga- `AZine passage.

In order to achieve all of these essential features and operations to permit a reduced diameter of the shells, I bend the feed rod as at point i' i 30, so-the pivotally anchored end 3| of the rod to provide a design in which the diameter of th@ willbe concentrically disposed, to serve as a journal about which the bottom shell I2 may be `rotated as it is joined to, and separated from,

the top shell II. At the same time the eccentric body portion of the guide and feed rod I9 has sufcient space within concentric chamber 32, in

vthe bottom shell I2 to permit that bottom shell to rotate freely without affecting, or being affected by, the guide rod or spring.

In Figure 7 I have illustrated the pivotal end of the guide rod resting in a concentric recess 33 in a transverse wall 34 of the lower tubular shell I2. In order to simplify and expedite the assembly of the complete unit, the pivotal end 3| is rotatably anchored in a disc or washer 35 of such size as to provide an easy sliding flt in the concentric hole 32 in the shell I2. The

disc or washer `35l may be fixed against casual removal from the pivotal end of the rod by slightly enlarging the end 36 of the rod, and pinching one or more lugs 31 on .the rod on the inner side` of the positioning disc or washer 35.

The front end of the device, which is the lower or outer end of the bottom Vshell I2, is shaped to receive a mechanical pencil unit which is, in itself, no part of my invention, and which is shown merely to illustrate the type of device Vto which the hand operable stapler embodying my invention, is applied, so the entire unit may provide a desirable and useful tool for engineers and mechanics who have frequent occasionv to fasten certain papers together asr they have marked them. Although I have shown my invention as applied.` toapeneil element, it should be clear that it might just Aas well be applied to a pen, with some slight modification merely in the relative dimensions.-

Yjoint independently of anyreaction pressure from theguide rod I9., In eithercase, the threaded ring portion at Ythe lower end of the top shell II may be made thicker or suitably reinforced.

As shown in Figures ,1, 2 and 6, the front portion of the batch of staples will be held between the platform surface 4D upon which the staples rest, and the shoulder portions 4I and 42 of the wall ,2| adjacent the end of the magazine passa'ge I4. The passage I4 is of such dimension yas to permit a relatively easy slide movement of the staples'without too much looseness.

thumb piece or head I 1a, the driver will shear the leading staple from its batch, and force` it downwardly and ,out of the feed slot I6, to perforate any papers 44 that may be `placed in the path 'of the staple between the lower end of the .feed slot I and an anvil 45.

` The anvil 45 consists of a metal element havving one end 46 anchored to the body of the shell II *by a suitable means such as two anchoring screws 41; and a forward portion 48 bent out of the plane of the anchored portion 46 to be slightly spaced from the end of the slot I6 to provide a space 49 into which papers may be inserted that are vto be fastened by the staple.

When the staple is pressed down through the `feed slot through the papers, by the staple driver Icrplunger I1, the lower ends of the staple engage curved slots in the anvil 45 and are turned upwardly,k and closed, as shown in Figure 4r.k

,y zWhen the driver I1 is in its lowermostposi- ,tion4 towards the anvil 45, the head or thumb niece Ila is arranged to be flush with the longitudinal periphery. To provide space to receive that thumb piece I1a, the shell I2 is provided with an arcuate recess 5I extending partially around the periphery of the shell as shown in Figures l and 2.

In order to permit the driver to be easily withdrawn to its raised position, the thumb piece I'Ia is corrugated or knurled on its side edge surfaces.

In order to prevent the driver I1 from being entirely withdrawn from its slot, an anchoring pin 52 is disposed in the top portion of the shell beyond the forward slot I6with the inner end of the pin 52 extending'into a longitudinal slot 53 in the driver I1.

yThe outer end of the shell II beyond the anchoring pin is shaped to constitute an annular ring portion 54 to receive an eraser 55.

A cap 56 fits over the annular ring 54 to enclose the eraser when it is not to be used.

A clip E0 is fastened on the top shell II by one of the anchoring screws 41 as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

My invention is thus directed to a hand operable stapler of simplified construction and design which may be made up of molded materials to provide a light, strong and inexpensive hand operable device that may be conveniently carried as part of a conventional pencil or pen.

In the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2, I have illustrated the shells as being formed of a molded or plastic material.

As a modification of these structures, I have illustrated in Figures 4 to 1'1, a construction wherein a metal magazine 6U is provided to receive the batch of staples, and to guide them to the feed slot.

Two cooperating channel sections 6I and 62 are; arrangedto be'assembled on end with' the magazine section 60 to provide the complete guiding positions for the staples and the pressure bar. l

The assembled metallic elements 60, 6I and 62 are then made to constitute the inserts in the finished molded shells. yWith this arrangement the metal elements provide the guide surfaces for the plunger and the'staples, instead of the molded material itself providing the guiding surfaces as in the construction-surfaces shown inl-Figures 1 and 2.` v

In order to hold the metal partswhile the moldedmaterial is formed around them, the elements 6I), 5I and 52 are provided with suitably located lugs 53 pressed outY fromr the body of the metal parts to fit over'corresponding portions of the adjacent co-fitting parts.

In Fig.18, of the second modification, is shown a section similar' to Fig. 6 but with the metal guide 60 of Fig. 14 as a molded insert in thefront magazine body II. yOtherwise the other parts are the same as in the first form, shown in Fig.v` l. The guide rod I9 for the staple pusher eX- tends through the arch 64, along the top wall of metal staple guide 60, and seats against the face wall 6 Ia of the channel 6I, similarly to the manner in which the corresponding guide rod rests against wall 2l in Fig. 1.

In order to permit the operator of the stapling device to raise the'staple driver I1 with the same thumb, immediately after pressing the bar downward, I provide alifting lever that is pivotally supported on a pin lwhich is anchored in the body of the shell. The forward arm 66 of the lever 55 projects under thehead piece I1a of the staple driver, and the other arm 61 is so constructed `asy to'v extend slightly above the contour of the shell; when the 'pressurebar is pressed downward to its limit position. Thus, when 'the thumb of the operator presses-on the arm 61, the leverwill be rotated slightly to Vlift the pressure bar upward out of its groove. It may then be easily raised, if necessary,l a suflicientlyfurther distance to move to its upper limit position. The ipivot pinv B6 may be easily positioned in a suitably drilled hole after the shell has been formed.

Inv Figure 11 I have shown the manner in which the anvil of the modification of Figure 2 is seated in a recess to provide additional holding pressure against the sides of theanvil, so it will be held more tightly by the anchoring screws, as is shown in Figure 6. The outer contour of the anvil of the modificationv of vFigure 2 and Figure 1l l is preferably curved to correspond to the circular contour of the shell.

Although I have referred to the shells as being made of plastic material, it will be understood that they may be made of such molded material of any kind of plastic, or they may be made of metal die castings.

My invention is no t limited to any of the specific details of construction that are shown, since they may be variously modified without departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention as set forth l in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A stapler to be held and used in one hand, consisting of a tubular magazine having a longitudinal passage to receive a unit batch of separable staples; a narrow feed slot to receive and guide a single staple; a thin reciprocable staple driver slidable in said feed slot, from one upper terminal position to a lower pressing position to separate, move and compress a staple; an enlargedh'ead at the toprof the staple driver to permit-easy raising of the plate and to provide apressure surface on its top to receive the thumb staples andbiasing them towards the feed slot intothe'patli of the staple driver.

2. A hand stapler to be held in one hand and to'be operated by the thumb, comprising a front tubular member having a metal guide member therein `to` serve as a magazine for staples; that guide' member having an internal longitudinal magazine passage Yto receive and to guide the staples, the back end .of the passage being open to permit the staples to be inserted into the longitudinal/ passage; the front end` of the means in the `nguloular member being closed to provide a narrowfeed slot to receive a'sngle staple at the forward end of the longitudinal passage; a staple driver ttinginto the slot between the end of the member and the front end of the magazine passage,fandmovable` from a top limit position to a lowerA limit position to compress a staple received in Athefeed slot; an anvil plate below the lower end of the feed slot to serve as-a reaction plate againstwhich the pressure plate may compress the staples; a rear tubular member to close the backend of the front tubular member; a pusher toi'it into the magazine passage to push the staples toward the feed slot at the front end of thel magazine; afsupport and guide rod for the pusher; fa-biasing spring on the rod to bias the pusher;Y forward; and means on the rear tubular member to support one end of the rod; the two tubular members being separable to permit insertion of a-batch of staples. 35A hand stapler to be operable by a thumb while held in one hand, comprising a front and a "rear, tubular element,-both being threaded to be connectable in axial alignment; the front tubular element having its threaded end open and communicating with a longitudinalpassageto receivea group unit of Yseparable staples; a pusher to t into the passage behind the staples; a supporting and guiding rod for the pusher; a compressable helical spring on the guide rod and braced against a portion of the guide rod to assert a biasing force against the pusher in a direction to move the staples towards the front end of the lfront tubular element; a receiving slot forxthezfront staple on the group unit; and a reciprocable staple driver in the slot to vseparate the front staple fromits group and to force it through a selected predetermined path; an anvil anchored ontheside of the front tubular element in the pathI of the staple driver to provide a reaction -surface against which the staple driver may-compress the staple after forcing it through the papers that are to be fastened together; and means-within the rear tubular element to support one end of lthe guide rod forl the pusher.

4 Afhand operable stapler to be held in one hand and operated by the thumb, comprising a tubular magazine body having a, metal guide member-therein shaped to have a longitudinal passage servingto receive and guide a batch of staples to a transverse slot, said slot being of widthv and thickness to receive the leading staple ofa. batchin the longitudinal passage; means adapted to be disposed behind the staples to bias them toward the transverse slot; a staple driver having a thumb plate and being reciprocable in the transverse slot to ,admit the leading staple into the slo1l andfto separate that staple from its batch and force it through papers to be secured; and an anvilin the path of the staple driver to cooperate with the bar to compress and clinch the staple, and a removable tubular closure separable fromthe magazine4 body to permit the insertion of arbatch of staples.

5. A stapler, as in claim 4, in which a lifting lever is pivotally disposed with one end under the thumbQplateof the staple driver and the other end iniposition at theperiphery of the magazine body and adapted to be depressed by the thumb to raise the staple driver after a clinching operation'.

6. A stapler to be held in one hand and to be operated by the.V thumb, comprising a tubular body having a, longitudinal magazine passage and a communicating transverse slot; al staple driver reciprocable in the slot and having a thumb plate atits topto enable thumb pressure to depress the staple driver, the thumb plate being substantially arcuate on its outer contour; and the tubular bodyghavingk a peripheral arcuate recess to receive the thumb plate.A

7.YA stapler as in claim 6, in which athumboperable lever is mounted on the tubular body togbe operated by the thumb to lift the staple driver from a depressed position to4 an elevated position. WILLIAM D. FALTZ. 

